Annunciator



March 15, 1932. J, C, MacLENNA 1,849,195

ANNUNCIATOR Filed June 6, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a-l-e 'n Mmy V VVproduce an ecient and reliable annunicatorV `fora street car' or. other -passengervehicle Patented Mar. 15, i Y 'i ,PATENToFF1c-E'Q- ,-zv

JOHN cLIFoRnMACLENNANjoF 'ronolvmdl oN'rARIo, CANADmAssIGNoBoF ONE-HALF i To CHRISTOPHER c. THOMPSON, jor TORONTO, QANADA' j, .i

. ANNUNoIAfron f Applicatin -ieafzrunef's, 1931.5 serial No. 542,585.1-

The, inventionrelates to improvements in annunciators as described 1n the ypresent specification and shown in thelaccompany.- f

ing drawings which form part of the same.

The primary object lof the invention lisfto ,of gure- 2 enoting the `mech inordentoin'dicatethe names of cross streets ofy a givenV Vrouteatwhich the street car stops. The streets arey indicated lin advance of their being actually reached and to this end'the names of :thevariousj stops of a. particular route are consecutively arranged upon. a flex- .iblestrip that isY wound upontwo` spools and `wound upon the other. l

passed over guide rollersso that -the names l. are individually displayed through a sightasv the strip is `unwound from' one spool"` and IfI sov desired, advertising.y matter 'may-v be carriedby the name 'strip so thatthe device may also serve as an advertising medium(V Furthermore, While inthe ensuing descriptien the device Y is specifically' described its applicationas' an annunicatorafor a street car, it is alsoV susceptible of; usesolely as anY advertising medium, and therefore l-it is not intended that the appended claims shall be resides in theelectrofmechanical'-v,operating means for intermittently'. feeding the fname -strip in 'eitherdirection-by a single solenoid.y

This is accoinplishedlbya drumhaving fric-v l-tional engagement with the name strip and for operating the drum.

-driven by'a ratchet mechanism equipped with areverse control. The .drum 'has meansfor turning either of the spools dependingupon which spool the strip-is being woundl Referring tothe drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional *view` through a casing illustrating the invention thereinA contained.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 isv a transverse section taken on the line 3-3 o'Figure 2. f

F'gure 41is a section taken ontheline4-4; ot Figure 1 showing the ratchet mechanism Figurel 5 isa detail of one of the two actuators of the-ratchet mechanism'.A 'e u g actuating mechanism.`

viceversa.

Figure 6. is an enlarged detailofthe manual reversemechanism of the-ratchet.

y Figure 8 is 'a'section takenvon v anSmOr/Qperating onegof the spools. i i

- Figure 9 isa detail in side elevation ot the pawlsthat actuatethe` ratchets of the'` spool EigurelO is an edgefviewthereof',y

Figure 11 isla sectionalview ofone' of v,the Y friction clutches and sprockets'of *the spool e Afzvictuating.mechanism-` Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in cachotthefiigures v througho'ut the drawings. e Y f f' Y 'In the drawings in which .the preferredconi i 4struction of the invent-ion is illustrated',l the reference numeral` 12 denotes the casing for housing the -various operating parts; vwhich rThe name strip may consist of a length of Afabric or the like, the ends of ,whichare sefcured` tospools 15, 415` yThe name strip v,un-jy winds-from `one spool onto the .other as the street car is makinga'trip' over a given route; fand, as it returnsover the-route, thedirection f' of feed of the strip is reversed so that the unwinding spool becomes the windingspool and A Ther-,strip is trained :over a` drumvl and @casing'emay be ofany particularshape or de- (sign and has a sight 13 through vwhich the names of streets individually appear. Llas V,the f name strip .14 1 isl intermittentlyoperated.

, guide-rolls 17, vthelatter ser-ving to guidethe e strip so'that-thefnames individually appear l .through the sight 13. The jfrictional .en-` gagement of the drum drivesthe strip; and to thisend vthedrum isii'xed toa' shaft 18gthat` vcarries a yfixed ratchet 19 having a set of teeth 'p VonV each side..l The ,teeth20 on the inner side ofthe ratchet are usedifor driving it clockwise, whereasthe teeth 21 on the 'outer-'side .thereof areused'for driving it in the opposite direction. 4 'e -V i The ratchet isoperated by electro-mechani-V cal means comprising a solenoid 23 `having e conductors 24 for connect-lon man electric circuit whereby the vsolenoidv .1sy ,energized `by v a wiper contact carried hy the overhead trolley wire. Said means for operating the solenoid are known in the art and hence do not require further description. The reciprocable core 25 depends from the solenoid and is pivotally .iattachedat 26 .to a double .toggle mechanism '27. The toggle `mechanism is composed of links 28, 2S connecting-thefcore .to arms2p29', encon,eachsideof theratchet 19. The arms are pivotedat 30, 3'0" .to v.respective hubs 31, 31" for 'lateral swinging movement. Each hub is loosely lmounted upon the shaft 18 and provided with a rigid radial member as at 32:that Eformsfa seat :for

, a compression spring 33 that urges the adj acent arm towards the ratchet so tha-ta `tooth 34 that itcarries will vengage: the teeth onv that -side'oftheratchet In conjunction with the ratchet mechanism 1 -a manual :control is suppliedhy which only one -armisengaged with the ratchet lat one time. This consists of a substantially@ vshaped slide 35 jequipped'with a *handle 35.

The legs 36, 36 are slidably disposed inthe 7^ wall 37 .of the casing '12 1parallel'with 'the ratchet shafft-18 and normal to they arms 29,V

29. Each lcg carries A'a rigid finger .as at 38,138." One of the' fingers'i'is disposed in front ofthe farthest arm l29'whilethe `other linger `is -d'isposedatfthe 'rearof the nearest arm'29, -as best 5seen from an insp'ection'of Figure 4. The ,arms are Ypreferably curved as shown.

'To operatethe manual control, the slide 35 E -is'pulled forwardlylso thatthe finger 38"be hind the-nearest rkwill engage 'the same and `swing iton Tits pivot 30 away from the --ra'tchet Vin vorder f' to Adisengage its tooth from the ratchet iteeth 21. The slide'is flocked in 5: this positionby conventional meansindicated 39,1Figuref6. WV'henit is desiredtolreverse 'the-'ratchet' the slrdeifspushed in-so asto cause l'theiinger-onthe nearside of'the'o'ther'arm '29 t0 engage the -sameso as to urge it away i from the 'ratchet to-disenga-ge it :and at the `same ltime ithe companion arm is released Ein Vorder that litma-y engage the ratchet. l

F-rom lthe foregoing description it l will be manifest that when the solenoid 23 Tis energized the core 25, `which ynormally depends vu-nder the in'iiuence of gravity, is withdrawn linto the solenoid. lThis upward'lmovemen't -causesthe links 28, 528 of the toggle mechanism to swing fthe -arms in 'an upward .arc

l* aboutthe axis Aoftheratchet 19. It-will'be also be maintained under proper tension, the spools are provided with driving means so devised that only the spool on which the strip is being wound will be driven. At each operation of the solenoid the driving means tends to turn *the winding spool through a -greater `angle than is requiredfto take up the slack Aofthe strip. This tensions the strip and winds 4itfirnily on the spool,.the additional turning movement .being accommodated' hy "the interposition of a friction clutch that yallows slippage to take place.

This mechanism comprises a radial mem- `:ber40lreyed'to therdrum shaft 18 and provided with a pair of pawls 41, 41', one on -each side thereof and'spring pressed as usual.

:Uponzeach side of the radial'member =4O is a "ratchet-42,42,-theteeth of Which-are 'engaged with the respective pawlsv41, 41', and oppo- *site'ly arranged so that when the -m-emh'er 40 isturned'in afclock-wise direction the pawl `41 wil'lrturn thelratchet A42 with it, hut the pawl '41 -will lride over Ithe `ratchet 42. When,

however, the'memher-4O is turned anti-clocklwise thefpa-wl 41vdoes not 4operate its ratchet.

Each Y-of these ratchets is connected to Vmechanism for operating a spool, and aseach nmechanism is ofi-ille 'construction a description ofone'fwilfl suiiice The ratchet742 Eis "integral with a sprockety 43 and jis -looselyv y'mounted uponlthe-'shafft 18 therewith. 44 is chain. vextending from the Isprocket to a sprocket 45 integral with -a `member 46 of la lconventional spring-'pressed cone clutch 47,

the oth'erm'emher 48vo'f the clutch 'being fixed -toithe=s`halft 49 of thespool 15.

Accordingly, when-the ratchet 42is'turned vby its pavvll 4it simultaneously-'turns vthe sprocket 43 and thus lthe clutch is'rotatedv to i wind up 'the spool Landfper'mit lost motion when ther-tension -on the strip V154 becomes excessive."

Whereas the invention 'has AbeenV described l-in-fits preferred construction in relation to ranannunciatorffor astree't car, it isfunder- 4stood of coursev that various changes and modications may t'be yresorted to that come within the scope of the appended claims and @that Athe invention is susceptible :of use for *annunciatorsotherthan the `street car type.

y'VWnat' I claim is 1.! In ran'annunciator,1means for 'feeding a flexible strip, said means comprising a rotatahly^moufnted drum friction ally engaging'thc strip, a ratchet having la driving connection therewith, said ratchet having teeth on one 'side-oppositelyarranged to teeth on the other side thereof, a pair of tooth members ar- `rangredone on each side'of'the ratchet for-engagement with the adjacent teeth thereof.

said Vmembers being Vmounted for turning 4about the ratchet axis and `swingable away from its teeth, means `for Icausingeither one of the toothed members to'engage'the ratchet and the other member -to lsimultanefnisly disf engage. the ratchet, and electro-mechanical:

means for oscillating the toothed members.y

2. In an annunciator, means for feeding a flexible strip, said means comprising a shaft, a drum fixed thereon and frictionally engaging the strip, a ratchet fixed on said Y shaft, said ratchet having teeth on one side oppositely arranged to teeth on the other side thereof, a pair of hubs loosely mountedupon the shaft, oneon each side of said ratchet, a

Y toothed member yieldably supported by each hub forengagement with the adjacent ratchet j tatably mounted drum frictonally engaging` the strip, a ratchet having a driving connection therewith, said ratchet having teeth on one side oppositely arranged to teeth on the other side thereof, a pairv of hubs loosely mounted upon the shaft, one on each side `of. the ratchet, a radial arm pivoted to each hub for swinging away from the ratchet, a tooth borne thereby for engagement with the adja-vr cent ratchet teeth, spring means forurgingleach arm toward the ratchet so as to engage its tooth with. the teeth thereof, means for swingingeither'one of thearms away from the ratchet so as to retain its tooth *outl of engagement with the adjacent ratchet teeth, and electro-mechanical means for oscillating the arms.

4. In an annunciator, means kfor feeding'a flexible strip, said means comprising a rotate ably mounted drumV frictionally engaging the strip, a ratchet having av driving'connection therewitlnsaid ratchet having teeth on oney side oppositely arrangedfto teeth on the other side thereof, av pair of toothrmembers arranged one on each sideof thegra-tchet forV engagement with the adjacent teeth thereof, i said members being mounted for turning yof the toothed members to engage the ratchet about the ratchet axis and swingable away from its teeth, springs adapted to urge the toothed members intoengagement with the ratchet, a manual ycontrol for swinging either one of the toothed' members away from the ratchet so as to retain its tooth out of engagement with the adjacent ratchet teeth, and electro-mechanical means for oscillating the toothed members.

5. In an annunicator, means for feedinga flexible strip, said means comprising a rotatably mounted drum frictionally engaging the strip, a ratchet having a driving connection therewith, said ratchet having teethfon one side oppositely arranged to teeth on the other side thereof, a pair oftooth members arranged one on each side of the ratchet for engagement-with the adjacentteeth thereof, said members being mounted for turningV about Ythe i ratchet axis -and swingable .away

',fromits-zteeth, springs adapted to urge the toothed'members into engagement with the ratchet, a manuallyoperable slide, a pairof fingers forming a part thereof-and arranged transversely fof the toothed members so as to `engage themy in any position of oscillation,

said fingers being. so arranged that" by. shifte vring the slide in one direction one of the iingers releases one of the toothed members from troemechanical means fo toothed` member. f

5 'oscillating the 6. Inv an annunciator, means for feeding a `the ratchet and Va movement inthe opposite V `direction causes the other fingen to.v similarly Areleasethe other toothed members, and elecflexible strip,fsaid means comprising a rotatably mounted. drum frictionally engaging f the strip, aratchet having a driving. connectiontherewith, said ratchet having teethon` Y ones'ide oppositely arranged to teethonfthe other side thereof, a pair'of tooth members arranged one Von each side Yof the ratchet for engagement with the vadjacent teeth thereof, said Vmembers "being mounted for turning about theratchet axis and swingableaway from its teeth, springs adapted to urge the ltoothedgmenibers into engagement with the j ratchet, Va reciprocably mounted U-shaped-j slide, a handle borne thereby, curved fingers rigidly rising from the slide and disposed to Y urge the toothed members against their-spring pressure, and electro-mechanical f means for oscillating the toothed members.

7 In an annunciator, means for lfeeding -a` flexible strip, said means comprising a ro tatably mounted drum frictionally engaging the strip, a ratchet having aV driving connec- 'tionjtherewitln said ratchet having teeth on one sidel oppositely arranged-to teeth on the otherside thereof, a pair of tooth members arranged one on each side ofthe ratchet .for

engagement with the adjacent teeth thereof, said members beiifig mounted for" turning about the ratchet'axis and swingableaway i' from its teeth, means for causing either one and the other member to simultaneously disoscillateI the toothed" members. l

vIn an annunicator, means for feedingV a flexible strip,said means comprising a rotatably mounted drum frictionally engaging the strip, a ratchet having .a driving connection therewith,'said ratchet having teeth on one side oppositely arranged to teeth on the other side thereof, a pair of toothnmembers arf ranged one on each side of the ratchet for engagement with the adjacent teeth thereof,

V`said Imembers being mounted for turning about the ratchet axis and swingable away lfrom its teeth, ,means for causing either one of the toothed members to engage the ratchet 'and the other member tosimultaneously disengage the ratchet, a pair of links having corresponding ends attachedV to 'the toothed members, and a solenoid having a slidabie Core attached to the other ends of said links which are so arranged with the toothed ineinbers as to compose a. donbletoggle.

9. In an annnnoiator, the combination VWith a pair of spools over which a flexible strip is Wound that is fed by a 'friction drum, of an arm rotatable With the drum, a pair of Voppositely disposed pawls carried by the arm, a pair of ratchets coaXially mounted With the arm and arranged one on each side thereof, the teeth thereof beingjoppositely disposed and each ratchet engagedby one of the said paWls, a. driving connection between one of the ratchets and a spool, a similar driving connection between the other ratchetv and the other spool, and a friction clutch'interposed between each driving connection and its spool.

Signed at Toronto, Ontario, Canada, this 11th day of May, 1931.

JOHN CLIFFORD MACLENNAN. 

